Gatekeeping and Stonewalling: Practical Examples

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Gatekeeping

In co-parenting contexts, gatekeeping refers to patterns that limit a parent’s access to information, participation, or shared decision-making. Examples shown include restricted access to shared financial accounts, withheld or deleted financial notifications, and unilateral childcare decisions. When repeated, these behaviors reduce transparency and exclude one parent from meaningful i

Stonewalling

Stonewalling involves avoiding communication or engagement on relevant issues. The correspondence shown reflects limited or absent responses on safety-related matters. When ongoing, this behavior hinders collaboration, prolongs conflict, and can negatively affect co-parenting and child stability.

How This Reflects Gatekeeping and Stonewalling

This message documents an attempt to address issues after repeated barriers to transparency and collaboration. Restricted access to shared financial accounts, deleted or withheld payment notifications, and lack of communication around missed payments limited oversight and problem-solving, reflecting gatekeeping. Ongoing non-engagement and absence of a

How This Reflects Gatekeeping and Stonewalling

This message documents an attempt to address issues after repeated barriers to transparency and collaboration. Restricted access to shared financial accounts, deleted or withheld payment notifications, and lack of communication around missed payments limited oversight and problem-solving, reflecting gatekeeping. Ongoing non-engagement and absence of a

 A unilateral change to child-exchange procedures based on a disputed allegation, limiting normal parent-child interaction. 

This message denies engaging in inappropriate conduct while acknowledging frustration caused by ongoing lack of cooperation. It redirects the focus to the children’s needs and calls for improved communication and cooperative co-parenting. The message highlights concerns about unilateral control over decisions and emphasizes that effective parenting 

An email from my attorney documented that Thanksgiving parenting time was disrupted by Michelle. Her attorney responded that he had no knowledge of the issue. This exchange illustrates a breakdown in communication that escalated conflict and required legal intervention to clarify what occurred.